Socket for toy locomotive headlights



Oct. 31, 1933. 1.. CARUSO 1,932,510

SOCKET FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVE HEADLIGHTS Original Filed June 9, 1926 l NVENTOR [cu/Is d/L150 ATTORNEY unirsnsrarss farENr m SOCKET FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVE,

HEADLIGHTS Louis Caruso, Irvington, N. 5., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York,

poration of New York N. Y., a cor- Original application June 9, 1926, Serial No. 114,634. Divided and this application May 21,

1928. Serial No. 279,322

4 Claims. (01. 173-358) The present invention relates to sockets for toy locomotive headlights and is more particularlyv directed toward the provision of an improved device for carrying'screw base miniature lamps such as are commonly employed in low voltage circuits.

The present invention contemplates the provisionof an improved lamp support for electrical toys such as toy locomo able for use in other than the toy art.

tives, although it is suit- Where the invention is made up in the form of a locomotive headlight, it employs a simple die casting having the threaded lamp socket formed in it, and having a passage-way for a removable insulated contact carrying may be conducted to th member so that current e base of the lamp. The

invention also contemplates the provision of a simple and expedient means of fastening this member in place after the body casting is fastened to the locomotive cover. An object of the press nt inventionis to provide posing the same.

The present application is a division of 'my application, Serial Number 114,634, filed June 9,

1926, patented June 12,

Other and further object of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the invention, one of the many possible embodiments in which it may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the'invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy locomotive showing the headlight mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the upper part of the locomotive showing the headlight mounted thereon; Figure 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the contact carrying member.

Where the invention is to be embodied in a'toy locomotive headlight, the die casting is made up to have an exterior surface simulating the locomotive headlight.

As here shown, this die casting has a sacket ll threaded at 12-to cooperate with the threads'l3 on a miniature lamp base 14. This socketis carried in a normally horizontal axis so that the light from the bulb 15 is directedin the-desired direction. The casting 10 is also provided with a vertical passage-way 16 which extends up from the bottom of the casting past the rear or base of the lamp socket. The casting is also provided with a rearwardly extending lug l7 and with a threaded hole 18 for the reception of a fastening screw.

A contact carrying member 20, shown more in detail in Figure 4, is made up from two pieces of sheet insulating material 21 and 22 of general T-shaped configuration. A conducting strip 23 is placed between the two insulating strips. This conducting strip is of substantially the same narrower so that the insulating strips extend beyond it along all edges. The upper end of one of the insulating strips is provided with a hole as indicated at 24 so that the upper end of the conducting strip is accessible as a contact as indicated at 25. This upper end may be bent outwardly as indicated in the drawing if desired. The lower end of the T-shaped contact carrying member is provided with a binding post in the form of a screw 26 which is threaded into the conducting. strip 23 and which is attached to a Wire 27 to hold it against a conducting plate 28 carried on the contact member by prongs 28 passing through the strip.

This contact carrying strip can be slid into position inthe passage-way 16 from underneath as indicated in the drawing and it affords a convenient method oi'conducting the current'to the base of the lamp socket and providing an insulating terminal for the lamp socket.

The headlight may be conveniently mounted in place in various manners, and, as here shown, a screw 29 passes through a thin metal plate 30 through the coveror roof 31 of the toy car or other support and into the tapped hole 18 in the die casting. The plate 30 has an aperture 32 through which the rearwardly extending lug on the casting 1o may pass, as well as accommodate the contact carrying member. The aperturn 32 is preferably so located so that the por-' tion of the sheet metal member 30 is caught between the lug and the car roof 31. The sheet tion v33, the lower extremity of which may be bent inwardly as indicated at 34 so as to engage with the lower endof the T-shaped contact carrying strip to hold it into position.

metal member 30 has a downwardly bent projec- Where these devices are used on toy locomotives, they may be readily assembled and fastened in place. The casting and sheet metal strip '30 are held in place by the screw 29,. The Wire 2'? for the headlight may be fastened to the contact carrying strip which may be inserted into position by passing it through the hole 32 and a hole 35 in the car roof, and held in place by bending the bendable member 34 against its lower end. This securely fastens the parts in place, makes it unnecessary to carry any wires insulating material and an interposed conducting strip, the insulating pieces extending beyond the edges of the conducting strip, one of the insulating pieces having a hole in the bottom of the T to expose the conducting strip.

2. In combination, a casting for supporting miniature lamps, said casting having a threaded socket for the reception of a lamp base, a face for attaching itlto a support, and a passage adjacent a downwardly extending lug disposed to the rear of the socket, and a removable insulated contact carried in the passage, the contact providing the center contact for the lamp base.

3. A contact carrying device comprising two T shaped insulating strips, a T shaped conducting strip of smaller dimension, means to fasten them together with the insulating strips extending beyond the conducting strip, and a binding post carried by the head of the T, one of the insulating strips having an aperture near the other end to permit access to the conducting strip.

a. A contact carrying device comprising two T shaped insulating strips, a T shaped conducting strip of smaller dimension, means to fasten them together with the insulating stripsextending beyond the conducting strip, and a binding post carried by the head of the T, one of the insulating strips having an aperture near the other end to permit access to the conducting strip, said other end of the conducting strip being bent to fit the ice 

